Butte College Foundation Spring Gala

Butte College Foundation Spring Gala Set for March 15

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Two Alumni to Be Honored

Butte College's largest fundraising event, the Butte College Spring Gala, will honor two outstanding alumni of the year on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at the Sierra Nevada Big Room, 1075 E. 20th Street in Chico, beginning at 6 p.m.

The black-tie optional event is hosted by the Butte College Foundation and benefits scholarships, athletics, and Foundation endeavors that benefit Butte College and its students. The evening includes a silent auction, live auction, and dinner, with the theme, "Start here. Go anywhere!" Emcee of the evening will be Dick Stein.

"Since 1968, Butte College has served over 500,000 alumni and helped students find their career pathways. This event recognizes two outstanding alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their professional areas of expertise," said Dr. Kimberly Perry, Butte College President. "It's exciting to note many of our alumni are touching lives not only in our communities in Butte and Glenn Counties, but also statewide, nationally and internationally. When our students succeed, it benefits our communities."

The two Butte College outstanding alumni selected this year include Mary Mooney, Mooney Farms, and John E. McAmis, J.E. McAmis, Inc.

Butte College alumna and entrepreneur Mary Mooney attended Butte College from 1982-1984 and transferred to earn her bachelor's degree from Chico State. Mooney Farms, founded in 1987, was a family-owned kiwi farming operation and Mary was instrumental in growing the business with her sales and marketing expertise. Today, Mooney Farms is home to 50 full time employees, processes 10 million pounds of sun-dried tomatoes annually, and ships product around the world. The Chico-based, quarter-century-old company has catapulted sun-dried tomatoes into a culinary staple, and produces 75 percent of the sun-dried tomatoes consumed in the nation. From the time Mooney Farms began, Mary performed many of the daily functions of operations and administration. With their move to Chico and large growth, Mary's main focus became sales and marketing, tradeshows, key corporate sales, and expanding international business.

Alumnus John McAmis graduated from Oroville High School in 1964. After enlisting in the California Army National Guard, he transferred to the United States Navy Seabee's for two tours of duty in Vietnam. Returning to California, John enrolled in Butte College in the Fall of 1968 when the campus was in Durham. John served as the College's first Student Body President, and was one of the College's first bus drivers. John later transferred to Colorado State University in Fort Collins for the Construction Management (CM) Program. Upon completion, John moved to Chico with his wife Renee and started their business, J.E. McAmis, Inc. in 1973. After several years of state highway projects, bridge construction and tunnel projects, John then focused on heavy civil marine construction projects. Today, J.E. McAmis, Inc. has successfully completed numerous marine construction projects all across the country, earning recognition awards for safety and innovation in the industry.

"We are pleased to honor two very successful alumni who got their start at Butte College," said Jenny Murgia, Butte College Foundation President and VP Manager, Tri Counties Bank. "The evening honors these individuals and supports the efforts of the Foundation to serve 13,000 students a semester through scholarships, programs, and services, in addition raising funds for our successful athletics program."

The Butte College Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization which raises funds to support the needs and mission of the College. In addition to awarding and distributing scholarships each year, the Foundation supports programs and services on campus to support 13,000 students each semester. Created in 1987, the Butte College Foundation relies on community donations. Helping students succeed directly benefits the economic health of Butte and Glenn Counties. The Butte College Foundation can provide assistance to donors interested in leaving a lasting legacy through planned giving and/or scholarships in memory of a loved one. Visit www.butte.edu/foundation.